Hadhrat Uthman - Excellence and eminence

Allah Most High has granted high qualities and great stations to the 3rd Caliph of Islam, the compiler of the Holy Quran, the generous Hadhrat Uthman Bin ‘Affaan (May Allah be well pleased with him), Dhun Noorain (the one with 2 radiances).

In the Holy Quran, Allah Most High has praised those bondsmen who adorn their nights with His worship, whose heads are bowed in submission before Him and whose hearts are conscious of Him.  They are always hopeful of His mercy.  Allah Most High says in the Holy Quran:

Well! (Is this polytheist better or) that (believer) who worships during the hours of the night standing and in prostration, lives in fear of the Hereafter and expects Mercy from his Lord?’ Say: ‘Can those who have knowledge and those who do not have (all) be alike?’ So only the wise do receive the admonition.   Surah Zumar (39:09)

Imam Jalaluddin Suyuti (May Allah shower His mercy on him) has written that Allah revealed this verse in praise of Hadhrat ‘Uthman (May Allah be well pleased with him).  As given Tafseer Durre Manthur:

Translation: Imam Ibn Munzir, Imam Ibn Abu Hatim, Imam Ibn Mardway, Imam Abu Nu‘aim and Imam Ibn Asakar (May Allah shower His mercy on them) have all narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Abdullah Bin ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with them) that he recited this verse and said that person is Hadhrat ‘Uthman (May Allah be well pleased with him) and as per another narration, he said:  This verse was revealed in praise of Hadhrat ‘Uthman Bin ‘Affaan.  (Al Durr Al Manthur Fit Ta'wil Bil Mathur)

It is mentioned in Nuzhatul Majalis:

Hadhrat ‘Uthman Bin ‘Affaan (May Allah be well pleased with him) would fast in the day and stand up in worship in the night.  He would rest briefly in the first part of the night.  His wife said:  He would spend the whole night in worship and would recite the complete Holy Quran in one Raka’at (unit of Salaat).  (Nuzhatul Majalis Wa Muntakhab Ul Nafaais)

It is an apodictic article of faith for the Ahle Sunnah that the order in which the first 4 caliphs ascended the caliphate is the order of superiority among them.

There is a Hadith narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Ali (May Allah be well pleased with him):

Translation: Hadhrat Ali (May Allah be well pleased with him) graced the pulpit and said:  Shall I not tell you about the best person in this Ummah after the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)?  People said:  Why not?  Do tell us.  He said:  That is Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with him).  Then he said:  Shall I not tell you who is after him?  People said:  Why not?  Do tell us.  He said:  That is Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him).  Hadhrat ‘Ali (May Allah be well pleased with him) then said:  Shall I not tell you who is the third?  Then he got down from the pulpit saying:  That is Hadhrat ‘Uthman (May Allah be well pleased with him).  (Nuzhatul Majalis)

Hadhrat Uthman - Excellence and eminence